GABFEST: Princeton High girls’ basketball player Gabby Bannett puts up a shot in recent action. Last week, Bannett starred on her Senior Day, tallying six points with three rebounds, two steals, and an assist as the Tigers topped WW/P-North 47-33 on February 6. On Monday, PHS competed in the Mercer County Tournament where it was seeded sixth and fell 87-33 to third-seeded Trenton Catholic in a quarterfinal contest. PHS, now 14-8, is next in action when it takes part in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) state tournament. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Gabby Bannett has been dealing with a balky shoulder this winter but she wasn’t about to sit out her Senior Day game for the Princeton High girls’ basketball team last week.

“I have dislocated it three times so it has been a little tough; actually last game it happened again,” said senior guard/forward Bannett, who has been wearing a brace on her shoulder. “I wasn’t sure if I should play today, but I am really happy that I did.”

There were some happy moments before the game against WW/P-North on February 6 as Bannett was honored along with the team’s other senior, Riley Devlin, with posters and balloons displayed in the gym.

“I have been here for four years so these girls are part of my family,” said Bannett. “It is just so amazing to celebrate with them. We were all so excited for this game — it was such a great energy.”

The Tigers displayed a lot of energy in the early stages of the contest as they jumped out to a 13-0 lead to start the game.

“That was because of how excited we all were,” said Bannett, who got a bucket in that run. “We work so well together as a team.”

Clinging to a 34-32 lead entering the fourth quarter, PHS pulled away to a 47-33 triumph.

“During halftime, coach (Dave Kosa) talked and we all realized that we need to win this game, not just for me and Riley but the whole team,” said Bannett. “We really put it together. We really had to focus on our defense, that was how we were going to win the game.”

Bannett prides herself on bringing an all-around game to the court for the Tigers.

“I don’t get the most points in the games but I like to think that I facilitate,” said Bannett, who scored six points with three rebounds, two steals, and an assist in the win. “I help keep everybody focused on task and together in what we need to get accomplished.”

Over the years, Bannett has developed a deep bond with fellow senior Devlin.

“Our freshman year we had like seven girls in our grade and over time, girls slowly started going away,” said Bannett. “I think that really strengthens our bond that we did stick with it. It makes our relationship stronger. We know that we are in it to win. We have a great chemistry on the court.”

With PHS having put together a 10-game winning streak from January 5 to February 2, Bannett attributed that success to team chemistry.

“This is the best record we have had in my four years here, I truly think it is because we are such a close-knit team,” said Bannett. “We do so much team bonding and we are all friends off the court. It really makes a difference. A lot of teams don’t have that, so I am really grateful that I got to experience this in my senior year.”

PHS head coach Dave Kosa is grateful to have two senior stalwarts like Bannett and Devlin.

“Both of them have been in it for four years, you couldn’t ask for two better student-athletes,” said Kosa. “They take it seriously in the classroom, they take it seriously out on the court. They are hard workers and their commitment to the program is really, really appreciated. They are great leaders that is why both of them are captains. Both of them are going to be successful down the road.”

The Tigers produced a successful finish against the Northern Knights with a 13-1 fourth quarter.

“It was a close game until the last quarter — in the last quarter we sort of pulled away,” said Kosa, who got 16 points from Devlin in the win with Anna Winters chipping in 11 and Sephora Romain contributing 10. “We have had stretches like that against other teams where the game is close and one quarter sets us apart. I just told them we had to play defense. They were hot today, we knew they were good shooters.”

In Kosa’s view, PHS has raised its game this winter. “This is the best stretch since I have been here, it is just them staying together, playing together, and understanding our roles,” said Kosa, whose team fell 87-33 to Trenton Catholic last Monday in the quarterfinal round of the Mercer County Tournament to move to 14-8. “There is great team camaraderie and we have got gamers. Anna [Winters] is a gamer, Riley is a gamer. Riley was struggling the last couple of games with her shot. Today she really stepped up and was confident. We have a lot of offensive firepower so that when one is off someone else can pick it up. It is just a matter of making sure that we look for that person and click.”

With PHS slated to compete in the upcoming New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) state tournament, Kosa is hoping his players can click down the stretch.

“Tournament time is a great time of year, it is a lot of fun,” said Kosa. “You play an entire season to get to that point. We still have some work to do. When we get to that point, everybody is good. It is who rises up. I am excited for it.”

Bannett, for her part, has enjoyed a great ride on and off the court with the Tigers.

“This experience is more than basketball knowledge, it is really giving me life lessons that are invaluable,” said Bannett, who is headed to George Washington University where she plans to study business. “Working together as a team, these are things I will use my whole life. A lot of people don’t get this experience this young. I am grateful I can learn these things.”